EP3792071A1 - Valuable or security product and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a value or security product (100), in particular an identity card, which comprises a carrier material and a portrait image (110) attached to it and formed from one or more printed layers (140a). To protect the portrait image (110), a tactile security feature (500) formed by means of a laser and comprising at least one straight line is in at least one of the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) or in at least one protective layer (150) covering the printed layers (140a) ) applied or introduced. The invention also relates to a method for producing the valuable or security product (100).

Description

The present invention relates to a value or security product, in particular an identity card, and a method for its production. Such value or security documents can be, for example, a personal document, a check card, a non-personalized authorization ID such as a ticket or a means of payment, or a value or security element intended for product security.

Valuable or security products, in particular value or security documents, serve to verify the identity of a person or thing or a claim, for example for payment of a sum of money or for the surrender of a product or the provision of a service. To this end, it must be ensured that the product cannot be imitated, falsified or adulterated, or only with considerable effort. The product therefore contains security features that are extremely difficult or even practically impossible to replicate. For example, like banknotes, the product is made of a material that is not readily available. Additionally or alternatively, security features can be formed by special colors, for example luminescent or optically variable colors, optical elements such as holograms, tilt images, kinegrams, lens or prism arrays, as well as guilloches, mottled fibers, security threads and others.

Although there are many security features that are used, many counterfeiting of valuable or security products are still successful; especially those in which a portrait attached to the valuable or security product has been subsequently forged or falsified. This is done by painting over the existing portrait finely, partially or completely, with a thin film being pulled on afterwards in order to make the fake - at least largely - invisible to the human eye.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a valuable or security product and a method for its production which take account of the disadvantages mentioned above.

The above objects are achieved with a valuable or security product with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 6. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In particular, the valuable or security product, preferably an identity card, comprises a carrier material and a portrait image attached to it or formed from one or more printed layers. To secure the portrait image, a tactile security feature formed by means of a laser and comprising at least one straight line is applied or incorporated in at least one of the printed layers of the portrait image or in at least one protective layer covering the printed layers.

This configuration makes it possible to incorporate or attach a so-called "level 1" security feature to the portrait or facial image of the valuable or security product, which can be easily checked by a person without technical aids.

The value or security product can be a value or security document or a security element, ie an element that is connected, for example, to an object to be protected against imitation, forgery or falsification, for example a sticker, label or the like. As a value or security product come, for example, a passport, an identity card, a driver's license or another ID card or an access control card, a vehicle registration document, a vehicle registration document, a visa, a check, other means of payment, in particular a bank note, a check, a bank card, or a credit or cash card, customer card, health card, chip card, company ID, proof of eligibility, membership card or other ID document, whereby it should be ensured that this has a portrait photo or is attached to it.

The valuable or security product is preferably in ID 1, ID 2, ID 3 or in any other format, for example in booklet form, as in the case of a passport-like object. The valuable or security product is generally a laminate made up of several document layers, which are precisely connected to one another under the influence of heat and under increased pressure. These products should meet the standardized requirements, for example ISO 10373, ISO / IEC 7810, ISO 14443.

The product layers preferably consist of a carrier material that is suitable for lamination. The valuable or security product can, however, preferably be formed from a polymer selected from a group comprising polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate or a polycarbonate formed with a geminally disubstituted bis (hydroxyphenyl) cycloalkane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), their derivatives such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS) , Polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and their derivatives, and / or paper and / or Cardboard and / or glass and / or metal and / or ceramics. In addition, the product can also be made from several of these materials. It is preferably made of PC, PVC and PET. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The foregoing Information relates both to films to be bonded and to liquid formulations that are applied to a preliminary product, such as a protective or topcoat. The product is preferably made from three to twelve, preferably four to ten films. The foils can also have printed layers. A laminate formed in this way can then be coated on one or both sides with the protective or topcoat or with a film. The film can in particular be a volume hologram, a film with a surface hologram (for example a kinegraphic element) or a scratch protection film. Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature arranged underneath and / or give the document the required abrasion resistance.

Insofar as the term “pattern” is mentioned in the description and in the claims of the present application, it is to be understood as a somehow designed distribution of visible and / or tactile elements on one or more surfaces. These elements preferably result in a self-contained representation, for example a line, a group of lines, a line pattern, a picture element, or an alphanumeric character, a symbol, a coat of arms, a line, a formula or the like.

When designing the valuable or security product with a group of straight lines forming the tactile security feature to secure the portrait image, there is the possibility that the straight lines can extend from portrait edge to portrait edge, but also beyond. The mutual distance or the predefined positions of the intersection points of the straight lines can represent a further security feature which increases the security against forgery of the valuable or security product.

Furthermore, counterfeiting can be prevented by means of a predetermined position of the lines on the portrait or a predetermined position of the lines with respect to the portrait edge. In this context it is therefore possible for at least two of the lines to run parallel to one another at an angle of 15 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a portrait image edge. An inclination of 45 degrees with respect to the portrait edge is preferred.

It is an advantage if the lines form a grid of lines. This line grid is formed from a plurality of straight lines that cross each other. The position of the points of intersection or the points of intersection in relation to at least one of the portrait edges can also be predetermined. It is also possible for the line grid to be formed with lines aligned at an incline with respect to a portrait image edge. Here, the line grid can also be aligned from 15 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to the portrait edge. It is preferably oriented at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the portrait edges.

It has proven to be advantageous if the energy input of the laser into the at least one printing layer is dimensioned in such a way that color pigments of the at least one printing layer are evaporated or removed locally, in particular free of smoke. The valuable or security product is formed with at least one, preferably with several cavities in the printing layer, if the energy input by the laser is higher.

_{A CO 2} laser, for example, can be used as the laser, and excimer lasers and fiber lasers can also be used. These lasers are characterized by their positive property that they can be operated in a very wide range of possible powers, so that a desired energy input into the irradiated material can therefore be specified or freely selected. With a pulsed mode of the laser, high but brief bursts of energy can be introduced into the material, so that it is removed without burning and thus leaving traces of smoke.

In this context, it is therefore alternatively or additionally possible that an energy input from the laser into the at least one protective layer covering the printing layer is dimensioned in such a way that the protective layer is locally evaporated or removed, in particular free of smoke. In such a case, the valuable or security product is formed with at least one, preferably with several cavities in the protective layer.

The evaporation or ablation creates cavities. The cavities can be formed by holes, depressions, cavities, channels, pores, recesses, cavities and the like. The cavities have in particular a Size in the micrometer range, ie the clear width / thickness of the cavities is in the range from 10 μm to 500 μm, preferably in the range from 100 μm to 300. The depth of the cavities is in a range from 1 μm to 500 μm.

1. A) Bereitstellen eines Trägermaterials,
2. B) Anbringen einer oder mehrere Druckschichten (140a) und Ausbildung eines Portraitbilds (110),
3. C) Herausbilden eines Sicherheitsmerkmals (500) in zumindest eine der Druckschichten (140a) des Portraitbilds (110) mittels eines Lasers, und/oder
4. D) Herausbilden eines Sicherheitsmerkmals (500) in zumindest eine die Druckschichten (140a) des Portraitbilds (110) bedeckende Schutzschicht (150) mittels des Lasers.

The process for manufacturing a valuable or security product is characterized by the following steps:

1. A) providing a carrier material,
2. B) applying one or more printing layers (140a) and forming a portrait image (110),
3. C) forming a security feature (500) in at least one of the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) by means of a laser, and / or
4. D) Forming a security feature (500) in at least one protective layer (150) covering the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) by means of the laser.

The advantages mentioned in connection with the valuable or security product also apply to the method according to the invention.

It is advantageous if the energy input of the laser is dimensioned in such a way that, during step C), color pigments of the at least one printing layer are evaporated or removed locally, in particular free of smoke.

As an alternative or in addition, it makes sense if the energy input of the laser is measured in such a way that during step D) the protective layer is evaporated or removed locally, in particular free of smoke.

Additionally or alternatively, the method is characterized in that the energy input of the laser is measured in such a way that the at least one printing layer is foamed locally during step C).

In an advantageous further development, the method is characterized in that an energy input of the laser is measured in such a way that the at least one protective layer covering the printing layer is foamed locally during step D). The lasered structures are created by the multitude of reflections Refractions of light in the individual bubbles are more clearly visible as lines or surfaces that appear white.

Fig. 1

eine schematische isometrische Darstellung eines Wert- oder Sicherheitsprodukts in Form einer Identitätskarte;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Schnittansicht der Identitätskarte entlang der Linie I-I; und

Fig. 3a

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet in der Druckschicht, in einer Schnittansicht;

Fig. 3b

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes weiteres Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet an der Druckschicht, in einer Schnittansicht;

Fig. 3c

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes weiteres Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet in der Schutzschicht, in einer Schnittansicht;

Fig. 3d

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes weiteres Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet an der Schutzschicht, in einer Schnittansicht;

Fig. 3e

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes weiteres Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet sowohl in der Druckschicht als auch in der Schutzschicht, in einer Schnittansicht; und

Fig. 3f

ein mittels Laser hergestelltes weiteres Sicherheitsmerkmal, ausgebildet sowohl in der Druckschicht als auch in der Schutzschicht, in einer Schnittansicht;

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures, the examples shown being merely exemplary and not representing any restriction with regard to the scope of the invention described. They show in detail:

Fig. 1

a schematic isometric representation of a value or security product in the form of an identity card;

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional view of the identity card along the line II; and

Fig. 3a

a security feature produced by means of a laser, formed in the printing layer, in a sectional view;

Figure 3b

a further security feature produced by means of a laser, formed on the printing layer, in a sectional view;

Figure 3c

a further security feature produced by means of a laser, formed in the protective layer, in a sectional view;

Fig. 3d

a further security feature produced by means of a laser, formed on the protective layer, in a sectional view;

Fig. 3e

a further security feature produced by means of a laser, formed both in the printing layer and in the protective layer, in a sectional view; and

Fig. 3f

a further security feature produced by means of a laser, formed both in the printing layer and in the protective layer, in a sectional view;

In Figure 1 a value or security product 100 provided with a security feature 500 is shown. The value or security document 100 can be a personal document, such as a passport, an identity card, an access card or the like, a check card or a bank note or another document. All of the following examples are described using such a card as representative of other document types.

In the Figures 1 and 2 the value or security product 100 is shown in the form of an identity card, which has been assembled, for example, as a laminate from several inner polymer layers 140. For example, the polymer layers can consist of PC and / or PET. The individual layers can be unfilled or filled with fillers. In the latter case they are opaque, otherwise transparent. The layers can preferably be connected to one another in such a way that they form a monolithic block which practically cannot be split.

In Figure 2 the individual layers before lamination are only shown for the sake of illustration. The interfaces are no longer visible in the finished laminate. The outer layers 150 of the card can be formed as a final plastic protective film or consist of a protective lacquer that has been applied to the card after lamination. The plastic protective film or the protective varnish is transparent so that the information underneath is visible from the outside. In particular, however, one or more printed layers 140a, for example of a portrait picture 110, remain visible, which is or are preferably arranged immediately next to or behind the outer layer 150.

The valuable or security product 100 has an upper side 101 and a lower side 102. The face or portrait image 110 of the holder of the card and data fields, namely for example, are located on the upper side 101 a first data field 120 and a second data field 130 with card and holder data in plain text. D. The data in the first and in the second data field 120, 130 are produced by printing layers which lie on an outer layer of the document, but directly under the outer protective layer 150.

It can be seen that the portrait image 110 is assigned a security feature 500 to protect it, which in the present case forms a pattern in the form of a line grid comprising a group of straight lines. The lines of the line grid run inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the portrait image edges of the portrait image 110. Other angles of inclination for the straight lines of the grid are possible. It can be seen that the straight lines also extend beyond the portrait image edges of the portrait image 110 and form protrusions with a preferably predetermined length. The length of these protrusions can be defined as a function of further parameters, for example parameters or data from the data fields 120, 130.

In a first variant, this security feature 500 is applied or introduced into at least one of the printing layers 140a of the portrait image 110 by means of a laser. It can be used before laminating the in Figure 2 shown composite are attached, or, with suitable focusing of the laser, only afterwards. As an alternative or in addition, in a further variant there is the possibility that the security feature 500 is introduced into the protective layer 150 covering the printing layers 140a.

In Figure 3a the security feature 500 produced by means of the laser is only formed in the printing layer 140a. For this purpose, the power of the laser was measured in such a way that the material of the printing layer 140a was deliberately removed and a suitable cavity 502, for example in the form of a line mentioned at the beginning or several such cavities in the form of a pattern, in particular in the form of a grid, is created.

In Figure 3b the security feature 500 produced by means of the laser is only formed on the printing layer 140a, in particular foamed, with which a raised area 504 arises. For this purpose, the material of the printing layer 140a is preferably formed from a thermoplastic.

In Figure 3b the security feature 500 produced by means of the laser is only formed in the protective layer 150. For this purpose, the power of the laser was measured in such a way that the material of the protective layer 150 was deliberately removed and a suitable cavity 502, for example in the form of a line mentioned at the beginning or several such cavities in the form of a pattern, in particular in the form of a grid, is created.

In Figure 3b If the security feature 500 produced by means of the laser is only formed on the protective layer 150, in particular foamed, with which a raised area 504 is created. For this purpose, the material of the protective layer 150 is preferably also formed from a thermoplastic. When foaming, small bubbles form on the surface of the plastics, in which the light is reflected many times, making them appear white. In this way, patterns that look white on a transparent plastic, in particular lines or grids, can be generated.

In the case of a fine, but clearly visible, parallel grid of lines, in or above the portrait, even the inexperienced viewer will notice even small irregularities, be it in the form of changes in the ceiling of the line, the straight and unbroken course and the same lengths. This is a so-called "Level 1" feature.

In Figure 3e the security feature 500 produced by means of the laser is shown, which is formed from cavities 502 and / or raised areas 504 present in the printing layer 140a and in the protective layer 150.

In Figure 3f a further security feature 500 is shown, which is formed from cavities 502 and / or raised areas 504 present in the printing layer 140a and in the protective layer 150.

REFERENCE LIST

100

Value or security product

101

upper substrate surface, upper card surface, top side

102

lower substrate surface, lower card surface, underside

110

Face image

120

first data field

125

third data field

140

internal polymer layers

140a

Print layer

150

outer protective layer

500

Security feature (lasered)

502

cavity

504

raised area

Claims (10)

Value or security product (100), in particular an identity card, which comprises a carrier material and a portrait image (110) attached to it and formed from one or more printed layers (140a),
characterized in that, in order to secure the portrait image (110) in at least one of the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) or in at least one protective layer (150) covering the printed layers (140a), a tactile line formed by means of a laser and comprising at least one straight line Security feature (500) is applied or introduced. Value or security product (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a group of straight lines forming the tactile security feature (500) is present to protect the portrait image (110). Value or security product (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least two of the lines run parallel to one another at an angle of 15 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a portrait image edge. Value or security product (100) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the lines form a line grid. Value or security product (100) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the line grid is formed with lines which are inclined with respect to a portrait image edge. Method for producing a valuable or security product (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the steps: A) providing a carrier material, B) applying one or more printing layers (140a) and forming a portrait image (110), C) forming a tactile security feature (500) comprising at least one straight line in at least one of the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) by means of a laser to secure the portrait image (110), and / or D) Forming a tactile security feature (500) comprising at least one straight line in at least one protective layer (150) covering the printed layers (140a) of the portrait image (110) by means of the laser to secure the portrait image (110). Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that, in order to form the line, an energy input from the laser is measured in such a way that color pigments of the at least one printing layer (140a) evaporate or ablate locally, in particular free of smoke, during step C). Method according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, in order to form the line, an energy input from the laser is measured in such a way that the protective layer (150) is locally evaporated or removed during step D), in particular free of smoke. Method according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, in order to form the line, an energy input of the laser is dimensioned in such a way that the at least one printing layer (140a) is foamed locally during step C). Method according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, in order to form the line, an energy input from the laser is measured such that the at least one protective layer (150) covering the printing layer (140a) is foamed locally during step D).

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